Robredo says PH lacks a leader in pandemic fight: 'Kung pwede lang mag-volunteer'

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 5) — Vice President Leni Robredo says there is a lack of leadership in the country's pandemic response and this has prolonged the suffering of Filipinos.

"Ang term ko nga ay konduktor, parang walang konduktor," she said during her weekly radio show.

"Kung pwede lang mag-vo-volunteer na ako. Pero kung di ka rin bibigyan ng authority, wala kang magagawa," Robredo added.

[Translation: My term is conductor, it seems we have no conductor. If only I could volunteer, I would. But if you are not given authority either, there is nothing you can do.]

Robredo said the government continues to fail to strengthen the basic factors needed to stamp out the pandemic, which are testing, tracing, isolation, and treatment.

Despite recording a high number of new infections amid the presence of the highly transmissible Delta variant, she said the government's testing capacity "remains low".

The executive also reiterated repeated lockdowns are pointless if the government will not take advantage of the period to conduct mass testing.

The government is now planning to implement granular lockdowns, under which local government units could restrict the movement of residents in a specific area. The Department of Health earlier said imposing such a lockdown rule will allow LGUs to actively do case finding.

READ: IATF approves granular lockdown status in NCR starting Sept. 8 – DTI chief

"Kahit mag-granular lockdown tayo, pero kung walang basic, patuloy na tataas ang cases," Robredo said.

[Translation: Even if we do granular lockdown, but without implementing the basics, cases will continue to increase.]